Think back carefully, when we were young babies, we could easily kiss our toes with just one casual pose; However, as we grow up, it becomes increasingly difficult to even bend down and touch our toes.

Another intuitive phenomenon is that when a young man who was originally 1.8 meters tall grows older, his height actually shrinks to over 1.7 meters.
Why did this situation occur?
Your tendons are slowly shrinking
In the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, it is mentioned that there are twelve meridians on the human body, which exist in our limbs, head and neck, chest and abdomen, and other positions. Muscles are closely related to our physical health, and those with good tendons live longer.
The older you get, the harder it is to avoid muscle contraction. The range of finger contraction and contraction becomes smaller, making it difficult to turn the head and lift the legs. In severe cases, it can cause numbness and insufficient blood supply to the limbs. When the tendons shrink to a certain extent, they will swell and thicken to the point of forming a "lump". Gently pressing will cause pain, which is called a "tendon knot".
In fact, muscle contraction and muscle knots are normal physiological phenomena that generally occur in the elderly. However, as more and more young people develop bad habits such as frequent desk work, prolonged sitting, and lack of exercise, muscle contraction and muscle knots become younger.
If the following symptoms occur, it indicates that your tendons may be shrinking:
1. There is a slight soreness in the neck, which requires deliberate relaxation and stretching;
2. The waist needs to be forcefully or forcefully straightened, accompanied by soreness and pain;
3. Difficulty bending down, tense and painful back muscles;
4. Legs and feet are sore, and even numb, making it difficult to squat down;
5. Thighs are difficult to lift or spread horizontally;
6. Taking small steps and taking big steps can cause discomfort;
7. The hand cannot be extended or bent normally.
Don't want to experience muscle contraction or knots too early, do more stretching exercises for a healthier body!
Scientific stretching is a health care method worth promoting
In some office white-collar workers and fitness enthusiasts, there is a popular method of health and fitness called stretching.
Stretching itself is a stretching exercise that is very beneficial for fitness. Using it to warm up before exercising can increase joint flexibility and protect joints; After exercising, stretching the tendons is very helpful in relieving muscle tension, elongating soft tissues such as tendons and ligaments.
Compared to people who don't like to stretch their muscles, those who frequently stretch their muscles will experience different changes in their bodies:
1. The body becomes softer
Regular stretching can reduce the risk of injury and make the body softer during exercise. Poor sitting posture, prolonged sitting, and other reasons can lead to stiffness of the tendons. However, by using tendons, spinal dislocation can be restored, and numbness and stiffness in the hands, feet, and waist can be alleviated.
2. The entire body's meridians are unblocked
In traditional Chinese medicine, there are six meridians distributed in the legs of a person, corresponding to the liver, gallbladder, spleen, kidney, bladder, and stomach. By using the tension of the tendons, it is possible to avoid blockage of blood vessels to a certain extent and open up the meridians throughout the body.
3. Accelerate metabolism
People who don't like sports have relatively slow metabolism, which is not conducive to regulating their bodies. However, stretching is very suitable for lazy people, and can be done at home without requiring a lot of exercise. It can also accelerate the body's metabolism and promote the elimination of metabolic waste in the body.
4. Healthy Kidney
If you find that your kidney function is not good, it may be caused by venous obstruction and bladder blockage. At this point, doing more stretching exercises can have a dredging effect and strengthen kidney function.
6 stretching movements to awaken the stiff body
When watching TV or playing with your phone at home, use fragmented time to do these four stretching exercises and relax your body!
1. Rear leg extension
Method: Take a standing position, lift the left leg back, and hold the left foot with your left hand, stretching it back as much as possible; After stretching for about 5-10 minutes, switch to the right leg.
2. Hook leg stretching
Method: Sit on a yoga mat or bed, with your left leg inward and your left foot pressed against your right thigh; Extend your right leg straight and hook your right foot towards your leg; Bend down and extend your hands to the front of your right foot; Stretch for about 30-40 seconds before switching to the left leg.
3. Leg compression stretching
Method: Find auxiliary objects such as railings and balconies, extend your right leg and place it up; Press the body forward or sideways, stretch the inner thighs and sides of the body; Twice a day for 5 minutes each time.
4. Bending and stretching
Method: Spread your legs slightly and kneel on a yoga mat; Straighten your hands and lean down on the yoga mat; This action can help stretch the back muscles and relax the back, lasting for 60 seconds each time. It is recommended to do it 2-3 times a day.
5. Bow waist stretch
Method: Stand on a yoga mat, bend over, and lean forward with both hands; Arch the waist, back, and legs, with equal strength between the upper body and legs; This action can simultaneously stretch the waist, back, and legs, achieving a win-win effect.
6. Arm extension
Method: Adopt a cross legged posture, with palms facing upwards in the opposite direction, pushing and stretching upwards until feeling tight, then stop and keep still; Just hold on for 15 seconds.